Air treatment system and method for treating supply air

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning system for conditioning room air comprising an air supply device (1) having an extraction air chamber (2), into which room extraction air from the room is introduced, and a power source (3) for powering the air supply device. The air supply device comprises at least one pettier-element (4) having a first side (20) arranged to condition at least part of the room extraction air before it being diffused into the room.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air treatment systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

HVAC, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, is a technology for indoor environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC system design is a sub-discipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Refrigeration is sometimes added to the abbreviation as HVAC&R or HVACR, or ventilating is dropped out as in HACR (such as in the designation of HACR-rated circuit breakers). HVAC is important in indoor design where safe and healthy building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and humidity, using fresh air from outdoors.

Ventilating (V) is the process of changing or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality, for example to control temperature, replenish oxygen, or remove moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide. Ventilation is used to remove unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduce outside air, to keep interior building air circulating, and to prevent stagnation of the interior air. Ventilation includes both the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the building. It is one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical or forced and natural types.

Air condition (AC) is the process of altering the properties of air within a space to desired conditions, those properties primarily being temperature and humidity. The aim is typically to distribute conditioned air into a space to improve the thermal comfort (lowering or raising the temperature) and air quality.

The current single room air conditioners for environments are typically arranged into or on the ceiling of an air-conditioned room. In an air conditioner, there is a heat exchanger or radiator in which heat exchanging medium (e.g. hot or cold water) is arranged to circulate in a coil covered by lamellas or fins that distribute the incoming air evenly into the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be arranged into a frame, and it is typically covered by detachable cover panel, which can be removed for cleaning the air conditioner. Filters are used in some installations to prevent the heat exchanger from clogging. Secondary filters are used in some installations to ensure the quality of air re-entering the space. Fans or induction of fresh air are used to circulate the air in and out of the air conditioner.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, an air conditioning system for conditioning room air comprises an air supply device having an extraction air chamber, into which room extraction air from the room is introduced, and a power source for powering the air supply device. The air supply device comprises at least one peltier-element having a first side arranged to condition at least part of the room extraction air before it being diffused into the room.

The advantage of the system is that system needs simpler infrastructure, i.e. pipes to carry heat exchange medium to a heat exchanger or radiator in which heat exchange medium is circulated, or boilers or refrigerant units to treat the heat exchange medium.

In an embodiment of the system the air supply device comprises outdoor air chamber for receiving outdoor air.

In an embodiment of the system a second side of the peltier-element is arranged to be treated with the outdoor air of the outdoor air chamber.

In an embodiment of the system the air supply device comprises a middle chamber arranged to receive part of the room extraction air from the extraction air chamber.

In an embodiment of the system the middle chamber comprises an extraction air outlet arranged to extract the room extraction air from the air supply device.

In an embodiment of the system the extraction outlet comprises adjusting means for adjusting the extraction air flow from the air supply device.

In an embodiment of the system the middle chamber and the outdoor air chamber are connected to each other by a conduit for introducing room extraction air into the outdoor air chamber.

In an embodiment of the system a second adjusting means are provided within the conduit for adjusting the room extraction air flow from the middle chamber into the outdoor air chamber.

In an embodiment of the system the second side of the peltier-element is arranged to be treated by the combination of the outdoor air and the room extraction air in the outdoor air chamber.

In an embodiment of the system the power source is a photovoltaic panel.

In an embodiment of the system the air supply device comprises a fresh air chamber from which fresh air is supplied into the room, and a fresh air inlet for receiving fresh supply air into the fresh air chamber.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for conditioning room air with an air conditioning system comprising steps of receiving room extraction air from a room into an extraction air chamber of the air supply device, conditioning at least part of the room extraction air by a first side of at least one peltier-element, and diffusing the conditioned room extraction air into the room.

In an embodiment the method comprises a step of treating a second side of the peltier-element with circulated an outdoor air flow.

In an embodiment the method comprises a step of combining part of the room extraction air, which is not diffused into the room, with the outdoor air flow.

In an embodiment the method comprises steps of receiving fresh supply air into an air supply device, and supplying supply air into the room.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the invention described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a schematic top view of a cross section of an air conditioning system,

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of schematic top view of a cross section of an air conditioning system having an air supply device comprising a middle chamber,

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of schematic top view of a cross section of an air conditioning system having an air supply device comprising a middle chamber and a connection between the middle chamber and outdoor air chamber,

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of schematic top view of a cross section of an air conditioning system having an air supply device comprising a middle chamber and a fresh air chamber,

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom plate of the air supply device of the air conditioning system, which bottom plate is facing the room, and

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic top view of a cross section of a peltier-element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of a number of embodiments, but it is not intended to represent the only ways in which the embodiments may be constructed, implemented, or utilized.

Term “condition” or “conditioning air” refers to treatment of air, i.e. heating or cooling the air. “An air supply device” refers to device which diffuses air into a space, e.g. a room. The diffused air may be circulated room air or it may be partially fresh supply air for example from outdoors. Term “outdoor air” refers to outdoor air, which is used for treating (heating or cooling) a second side of a peltier-element and which outdoor air is not supplied into the room. “Fresh air” refers to fresh outdoor air, which is supplied into the room. Term “room extraction air” refers to air that is introduced into the air supply device from the room. It may be partly or completely diffused back into the room or it may be partly or completely extracted outdoors.

FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning system comprising an air supply device 1 for conditioning (heating or cooling) room air. The air supply device comprises an extraction air chamber 2, into which the extraction air from the room is introduced. The room air is introduced into an extraction air chamber 2 through opening 7, which is arranged on a bottom wall of the extraction chamber 2. The bottom wall is facing towards the room. The opening 7 may have several small holes in the bottom wall of the extraction air chamber or it may be one big opening which may be covered by a mesh. Size and design of the opening 7 may vary from very small holes to a bigger opening, such as an elongated gap. The opening 7 may also act as a filter, which is arranged to filter unwanted particles, dust etc. from the extraction air.

The air supply device 1 comprises at least one pelti-er-element 4 which is arrange to condition at least part of the room extraction air before it is diffused back into the room. The number of peltier-elements 4 depends on the size of the air supply device and the efficiency of the used peltier-elements. In FIG. 1, the air supply device comprises three peltier-elements 4 which are arranged in a row inside the air supply device. However, the number of the peltier-elements may vary. The peltier-elements use the Peltier effect, which is explained later.

The extraction air chamber 2 and a first side of each of the peltier-elements 4 may be connected by passages, which conduct at least part of the room extraction air to the peltier-elements 4 to be conditioned. Further, the conditioned air may be conducted into a diffuse chamber 6 from which the conditioned air is diffused back into the room via a supply opening 5. As the opening 7, the supply opening may have different design and size. The supply opening may be for example an elongated gap, several small holes, or a big opening with a mesh.

The part of the room extraction air, which is not conditioned by the peltier-elements may be conducted to the extraction outlet and out of the device and, for example, outdoors.

The air conditioning system comprises a power source 3, which is needed to electrify the peltier-elements, and further, the air conditioning. The power source may be the electric system of a building or it may be a power source that is separate from the building electricity. According to one embodiment, the power source is a photovoltaic panel. By using the photovoltaic panel(s), the air conditioning system may be independent from the buildings electric system. Thus, it is possible to assemble such system in a building or a structure that does not have electricity.

By using peltier-elements to treat room air, there is no need for typical heat exchangers comprising liquid heat transfer medium, e.g. water. And without such heat exchangers, there is no need to have piping for the heat transfer medium. This enables that the air conditioning system is easier and more cost efficient to install. Further, also the heat transfer medium or the previous systems needs to be treated. This may be done for example boilers in a boiler room or refrigerating units. These need electricity and some means, e.g. heat pumps, to transfer the thermal energy to the heat exchangers. The present system with the peltier-elements needs much less energy for conditioning same amount of room air.

The extraction air chamber 2 may be divided in two sub-chambers by a wall 24, as seen in FIG. 2. A first sub-chamber 25 and a second sub-chamber 26 are arranged to receive part of the room extraction air through the openings 7, i.e. each of the sub-chambers covers part of the opening 7. The first sub-chamber 25 is arranged to receive part of the room extraction air that is conditioned with the peltier-element 4, and the second sub-chamber 26 is arranged to receive part of the room extraction air that is not conditioned with the peltier-element 4 but is conducted out of the extraction air chamber 2, e.g. outdoors. By dividing extraction air chamber 2 in two sub-chambers, the extraction of the extraction air may be controller more precisely.

FIG. 2 shows an air conditioning system as in FIG. 1. However, the FIG. 1 is used to explain the air supply device on a first side of the peltier-element, i.e. how the room extraction air is conditioned and diffused back into the room. FIG. 2 is used to explain the air supply device on a second side of the peltier-element, i.e. how other side of the peltier-element is treated when the room extraction air is conditioned.

The air supply device 1 may comprise an outdoor air chamber 8. Outdoor air is received into the outdoor air chamber from an outdoor air inlet 9. The outdoor air is conducted to a second side of the peltier-elements 4, wherein the outdoor air is arranged to heat or cool the second side of the peltier-elemets 4. Further, the outdoor air may be conducted from the peltier-elements into an outdoor extraction chamber 23, from which the outdoor air may be conducted to the outdoor air outlet 17 and outside. The first side and the second side of the peltier-elements are separated by a thermally insulated wall 22. Thus the cool and hot sides are separated and the peltier-element may work more efficiently.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the air conditioning system, wherein the air supply device 1 further comprises middle chamber 10. The part of the room extraction air, which is not conditioned and diffused into the room, is conducted from the extraction air chamber 2 into the middle chamber 10. The middle chamber may comprise an extraction air outlet 11 through which the extraction air is extracted outside the air supply device and possibly further out of the building.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the air conditioning system wherein adjusting means 12 are provided within the extraction air outlet 11. The adjusting means adjusts the extraction air flow from the air supply device. The adjusting means may be rotatable plate arranged to rotate within the extraction air outlet so that the cross section of the extraction air outlet through which the extraction air is flown outside varies. The adjusting means 12 may even close the extraction air outlet 11 completely so that no air is extracted outside of the air supply device. The adjusting means may also be a ball valve. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the extraction air outlet is provided with the middle chamber 10. However, it is to be noted, that in embodiments, wherein middle chamber is not provided, the extraction air outlet is located on the wall of the extraction air chamber 8, as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In one embodiment, the middle chamber 10 and the outdoor air chamber 8 are connected to each other by a conduit 13. The conduit 13 allows at least part of the extraction air to flow into the outdoor air chamber 8 and to mix with the outdoor air. The mixed air is used to treat the second side of the peltier-elements as the outdoor air earlier. As the second side of the peltier element require certain temperature level, it is possible that the outdoor air may not be used as such. The outdoor air may be too cold or too hot to treat the second side of the peltier-element and, thus, the first side of the peltier-element does not condition the room extraction air efficiently. Therefore, in some conditions, it is beneficial to mix at least some room extraction air into the outdoor air, to have more suitable air temperature for treating the second side of the peltier-element.

Within the conduit 13, a second adjusting means 14 may be provided for adjusting the room extraction air flow from the middle chamber 10 into the outdoor air chamber 8. The second adjusting means 14 may be a plate arranged to slide along the wall separating the middle chamber 10 and the outdoor air chamber 8. By sliding the plate, the size of the conduit 13 may be adjusted or even closed completely. The second adjusting means 14 may also be a rotatable plate.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the air conditioning system, wherein the air supply device 1 comprises a fresh air chamber 15. Further, a fresh air inlet 19 may be provided to receive fresh air into the fresh air chamber 15 of the air supply device 1. Further, the fresh air chamber comprises fresh air opening 16 for diffusing fresh air into the room. The fresh air opening 16 may have many sizes and designs, as the supply opening 5. The fresh air opening may be for example elongated gap or it may comprise several holes. It may also be an opening comprising a mesh, or such. It is obvious that living spaces, such as rooms, require fresh air. When the fresh air supply is combined with the air conditioning device described above, there is no need for separate fresh air device.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the outdoor air outlet 17 comprises adjusting means 18 to adjust the outdoor air flow from the air supply device to the outside. The adjusting means 18 may have similar design and structure as the adjusting means 12 in the room extraction air outlet 11. Though the adjusting means 18 of the outdoor air outlet 17 is illustrated with the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it is obvious that such adjusting means may be provided with each of the above embodiments, which comprises outdoor air outlet.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the face of the air supply device 1 that is towards the room. The face shows supply opening 5, room extraction air opening 7 and the fresh air opening 16, which at least are visible into the room. The fresh supply air is diffused into the room via fresh air opening 6, the room extraction air is introduced into the air supply device via extraction air opening 7, and the conditioned room extraction air is diffused back into the room via supply opening 5. As earlier discussed, the size and the design of the openings (5, 7, 16) may vary. It is obvious that in embodiments, that do not comprise fresh air chamber, there is no fresh air opening 16. Therefore, in some embodiments only supply opening and the room extraction air opening are visible to the room.

The air supply device 1 may be installed inside the ceiling or it may be installed on the ceiling, i.e. surface installation. It may also be installed in the side wall of a room or even on the floor.

The air conditioning system described here uses the Peltier effect within modules making up the heat treatment elements. DC electric current powers the semiconductors located between 2 plates and the assembly forms a peltier-element. This results in the negatively charged plate cooling and the other positively charged plate heating up. The system is reversible by reversing the electric current.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic drawing of a peltier-element comprising a first side 20 and a second side 21. In use, one of the sides 20 or 21 is heating and the other one is cooling. As said above, the system is reversible and, therefore, the system may be used for cooling or heating the room extraction air on the first side 20 of the peltier-element before diffusing it back into the room. The first side 20 and the second side 21 of the peltier-element and the respective chambers 6, 23, in which the conditioned or treated air is conducted, are separated by a thermally insulated wall 22.

The temperature difference achieved between the first side 20 and the second side 21 is limited. Therefore, in some conditions the outdoor air does is not cool enough or hot enough to treat the second side 21 of the peltier-element. Thus, in an embodiment of the air conditioning system, at least part of the room extraction air is mixed with the outdoor air for lowering or rising the temperature of the air that is used for treating the second side 21 of the peltier-element.

The peltier-element may comprise fans on each side 20, 21 of the peltier-element. The fans may provide a better circulation of the air within the peltier-elements.

The peltier-elements may also comprise heat exchangers on both sides 20, 21 to more efficiently heating or cooling the airflows.

Although the invention has been the described in conjunction with a certain type of system, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any certain type of system. While the present inventions have been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments, and implementations, the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications, and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of prospective claims. 

1. An air conditioning system for conditioning room air comprising an air supply device having an extraction air chamber, into which room extraction air from the room is introduced, and a power source for powering the air supply device, wherein the air supply device comprises at least one peltier-element having a first side arranged to condition at least part of the room extraction air before it being diffused into the room.
 2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air supply device comprises outdoor air chamber for receiving outdoor air.
 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein a second side of the peltier-element is arranged to be treated with the outdoor air of the outdoor air chamber.
 4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air supply device comprises a middle chamber arranged to receive part of the room extraction air from the extraction air chamber.
 5. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the middle chamber comprises an extraction air outlet arranged to extract the room extraction air from the air supply device.
 6. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the extraction outlet comprises adjusting means for adjusting the extraction air flow from the air supply device.
 7. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the middle chamber and the outdoor air chamber are connected to each other by a conduit for introducing room extraction air into the outdoor air chamber.
 8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein a second adjusting means are provided within the conduit for adjusting the room extraction air flow from the middle chamber into the outdoor air chamber.
 9. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the second side of the peltier-element is arranged to be treated by the combination of the outdoor air and the room extraction air in the outdoor air chamber.
 10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a photovoltaic panel.
 11. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air supply device comprises a fresh air chamber from which fresh air is supplied into the room, and a fresh air inlet for receiving fresh supply air into the fresh air chamber.
 12. A method for conditioning room air with an air conditioning system comprising steps of: receiving room extraction air from a room into an extraction air chamber of an air supply device, conditioning at least part of the room extraction air by a first side of at least one peltier-element, and diffusing the conditioned room extraction air into the room.
 13. The method according to claim 12 comprising a step of treating a second side of the peltier-element with circulated outdoor air flow.
 14. The method according to claim 13 comprising a step of combining part of the room extraction air, which is not diffused into the room, with the outdoor air flow.
 15. The method according to claim 12 comprising steps of receiving fresh supply air into a fresh supply air chamber of the air supply device, and supplying supply air into the room. 